BILL NUMBER: SB 1526	CHAPTERED  09/14/00

	CHAPTER   446
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE   SEPTEMBER 14, 2000
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR   SEPTEMBER 13, 2000
	PASSED THE SENATE   AUGUST 25, 2000
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY   AUGUST 7, 2000
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY   JUNE 12, 2000
	AMENDED IN SENATE   MARCH 22, 2000

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kelley

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2000

   An act to amend Section 97 of the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to highways.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1526, Kelley.  Highways:  Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zones.

   (1) Existing law, until January 1, 2004, requires the Department
of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of the
California Highway Patrol, to develop specified pilot projects to
designate and identify certain highway segments as "Safety
Enhancement-Double Fine Zones" and impose increased fines for traffic
violations occurring within these zones.
   This bill would require the department to develop a pilot project
that would be administered, in part, by certain local authorities,
for designated portions of State Highway Routes 2 and 74.  The bill
thereby would create a state-mandated local program by imposing
additional duties upon those local authorities.
  (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state.  Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement, including the creation of a State Mandates Claims Fund
to pay the costs of mandates that do not exceed $1,000,000 statewide
and other procedures for claims whose statewide costs exceed
$1,000,000.
   This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 97 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended
to read:
   97.  (a) The department, in consultation with the Department of
the California Highway Patrol, shall develop pilot projects in both
northern and southern California.  The portions of the highways
involved in the projects shall be designated and identified as
"Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zones" and shall be in the following
locations:
   (1) On Route 37, between the intersection with Route 121 and the
intersection with Route 29.
   (2) On Route 4, between the intersection with the Cummings Skyway
and the intersection with Route 80.
   (3) On Route 74, at both of the following locations:
   (A) Between the intersection with Route 5 and the intersection
with the Riverside-Orange county line.
   (B) Between the junction with Route 15 and the intersection with
Seventh Street in the City of Perris.
   (4) On Route 46, between the intersection with Route 101 and the
junction with Route 41.
   (5) On the Golden Gate Bridge.
   (6) On Route 12, between the intersection with Walters Road in the
City of Suisun and the intersection with Lower Sacramento Road in
the City of Lodi.
   (7) On Route 138, between the intersection with Avenue T and
Pearblossom Highway and the intersection with Interstate Highway
Route 15.
   (8) On Route 101, between the intersection with Boronda Road and
the intersection with the San Benito-Monterey county line.
   (9) On Route 152, between the junction with Route 156 at the Don
Pacheco "Y" and the intersection with Ferguson Road.
   (10) On Route 2, between the city limits of La Canada Flintridge
and the intersection with Route 39.
   (b) (1) The department shall adopt rules and regulations
prescribing uniform standards for warning signs to notify motorists
that, pursuant to Section 42010 of the Vehicle Code, increased
penalties apply for traffic violations that are committed within
Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zones.  The rules and regulations
adopted by the department shall include, but not be limited to, a
requirement that Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zones be identified
with signs stating:  "Special Safety Zone Begins Here" and "Special
Safety Zone Ends Here."
   (2) The department or local authorities, with respect to highways
under their respective jurisdictions, shall place and maintain the
warning signs specified in paragraph (1) in areas designated under
subdivision (a).
   (3) The department shall report to the Legislature on January 1,
2003, on the results of these pilot projects, including a
determination of whether the projects were successful.  In its
report, the department shall update the January 1, 1998, report, and
shall provide a detailed analysis on the impact of the pilot projects
on highway safety, including, but not limited to, the number of
accidents, traffic injuries, and fatalities in the project areas;
and, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway
Patrol, recommend specific criteria for designation of a highway as a
Safety Enhancement-Double Fine Zone.  A determination that the
projects were successful shall be based upon a showing that a
statistically significant decrease in the number of accidents,
traffic injuries, and fatalities has occurred in the project areas.
   (c) Designation of a highway as a Safety Enhancement-Double Fine
Zone does not increase the civil liability of the state under
Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the
Government Code or any other provision of law relating to civil
liability.
   (d) (1) Only the base fine shall be enhanced pursuant to this
section.
   (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any additional
penalty, forfeiture, or assessment imposed by any other statute shall
be based on the amount of the base fine before enhancement or
doubling and shall not be based on the amount of the enhanced fine
imposed pursuant to this section.
   (e) The pilot projects specified in subdivision (a) shall not be
elevated in priority for state funding purposes.
   (f) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2004, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, which is enacted before January 1, 2004, deletes or extends
that date.
  SEC. 2.  Notwithstanding Section 17610 of the Government Code, if
the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains
costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and
school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7
(commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
Government Code.  If the statewide cost of the claim for
reimbursement does not exceed one million dollars ($1,000,000),
reimbursement shall be made from the State Mandates Claims Fund.

